Hey everyone, so it’s course selection time at my school and I wanted to get some input on what my junior year schedule should look like because I know that many say it is the most important year with regards to college admissions.
There are seven periods in a school day for us and right now this is the course load I’m thinking about:
AP Calc AB
Spanish 4 Honors
AP US History
AP Language and Composition
AP Physics (At my school this class has 2 additional lab periods every 6 day cycle, so it takes up more time in my schedule)
Accounting 1 (one semester class)
Gym and Health over the summer
So one question I have under this schedule, I would have 4 study hall periods every six day cycle (this is the way my school structures things we have A-F days) during the semester I have accounting I, and then during the semester when I don’t have it, an additional study hall every day, so my question is whether this would look bad to colleges because for half the year I will have 10 study hall periods per cycle? Should I try to take another half year elective, or replace accounting I with a different full year class?
Btw, I currently take Ap world history and Ap psych so these aren’t my first AP’s. I want to go into business/finance, and am aiming for elite schools- Upenn wharton etc.
Thoughts? Thanks!
Bump, and I was thinking about maybe replacing accounting I with Ap gov so i’d have 4 study halls every 6 day cycle. I hear it’s an easier Ap and I’m genuinely interested in it.
AP gov is a really cool class(maybe bc i like politics) and i reccomend you take it if you like the topic. However, if you want to major in finance accounting probably is more in line with that. You also have another year though so you can take ap gov then because colleges look at senior classes as well but if you apply early, they won’t get your semester 1 grades.
I have no idea what your school’s scheduling method is but if that is the norm for your hs then you shouldn’t have a problem.
Overall your schedule looks good to me.
To be honest, if you want to do it then do it! Politics are very interesting. I took a college level accounting class and I can tell you it was the worst class I’ve taken in all of high school. Not theoretical at all, but that’s just because I’m into the theory and doing cool stuff with numbers and such and it felt like brute memorization. In the end, do what you think would be most beneficial to your learning experience and what you’re most interested in. In all honestly, your courseload looks plenty difficult and the substitution of accounting for gov probably won’t make that much of a difference to an admissions counselor looking at it. In this case, if I were in your shoes, I’d totally go with my gut feeling. Also, if you’ve taken a whole lot of business courses then maybe gov looks more appealing. However, if you haven’t, I’d highly suggest that you take a few before you start applying to business schools and then realize you don’t like it. That almost happened with me. Had I not taken accounting, I’d still be applying to business schools, and have realized in my first year that I have no desire to go into business.
Good Luck! You sound very intelligent and I have no doubt next year will be enlightening and great no matter what you choose!
@NicholasT
My son’s school is on a six day cycle as well, with 9 periods in a day. I don’t think there is anyway for colleges to know how many open periods you have. They are not listed as study halls, correct? For my son, the open periods are just the off days from his classes. Although, at his school, AP classes have no off days.
I think 4 AP classes and an honors class is plenty rigorous. I wouldn’t add in another AP. You could look for another 1 semester class to take up the other half of the year for accounting. Anything else you are interested in?
BTW, my son loved accounting. It probably depends on the teacher.
If you’re aiming for top finance programs (Wharton, Stern, plus schools such as Mendoza, Ross, Northwestern, etc) then you shouldn’t be taking accounting (which is considered too “applied”) but rather take something that shows your ability to conceptualize. Do you have an opportunity to take one period dual-enrollment, and take philosophy at a local community or 4-year collge? Intro to philosophy + Intro to Logic would make a lot of difference for you.
However, overall, your schedule is fine.
With such a system, colleges wouldn’t know you have some study hall periods some days.
Thanks for the replies everyone. I’m very interested in both classes, but the issue is that my school is very competitive, the #1 public high school in a mid-Atlantic state, so taking 3+ Ap’s is not uncommon. I know that colleges look at course rigor in the context of one’s school, and while study halls aren’t listed on my transcript, my schedule might not be The Most rigorous for my school. Probably around top 10%, there are a few kids taking more Ap’s than me. So I’m concerned that my schedule won’t be viewed as most rigorous and admissions officers will think I’m not challenging myself enough or taking full advantage of my opportunities. My first choice school is Upenn, and my school sends 1-2 kids there every year so they’re familiar with my school. @MYOS1634 there is a dual-enrollment program with intro to ethics but it is only for seniors during their spring semester. Your point about accounting being too “applied” is interesting. Would having it on my transcript hurt me? There aren’t too many classes available to me that show my ability to conceptualize. The only other course options I have this year are an entrepreneurship semester-class, but I’m guessing that has the same issue, a public speaking class (which is considered a joke, and I do debate already), art, or Ap gov as I have discussed.
1° Ask your GC if your schedule would be considered “most rigorous”.
2° Is there a community college that may offer Philosophy classes, especially Intro to philosophy or intro to Logic during the summer? To which you’d add Ethics Spring senior year.
3° entrepreneurship may involve projects, which can always lead to interesting essays or interview answers, not to mention may be a different experience than other classes. Ask the teacher.